Jessica Gruse

20 Added | 1 Magazine | 1 Follower | @jessgruse92 | Keep up with Jessica Gruse on Flipboard, a place to see the stories, photos, and updates that matter to you. Flipboard creates a personalized magazine full of everything, from world news to life’s great moments. Download Flipboard for free and search for “Jessica Gruse”

Little can match the pleasure of taking a dip in a secluded spot. Sliding into a river or striking out for the centre of a lake, it’s impossible not to feel as if you’ve become part of the scene, rather than simply marvelling at it.<p>Indulge in one of these stunning swims and we promise they’ll make …

No surprises here that Latin America and Europe are topping the list of preferred destinations for travelers this summer. And it should come as a shock to absolutely no one that "popular" also translates to "pricey."<p>An easy way to make the most out of your trip is to take the road less traveled, …

Whoever said Vail was just a "winter city" is <i>seriously</i> confused.<p>The town is gorgeous when dusted in snow (see video for proof), but those same sights -- known to attract America's richest, most indulgent travelers -- are less crowded, less frigid and all the more epic during summer months.<p>Even if …

Nobody wants a travel disaster -- especially when maneuvering Europe, that mystical continent full of over-hyped attractions and over-priced water bottles.<p>Reddit user Gspence314 recently asked fellow travelers for their pro tips on making it through Europe without a hiccup.<p>Their answers cover …

No summer is complete without a trip to the beach. But instead of the typical best-of roundup, we decided to do something a little different: We had the ShermansTravel staff share their favorite off-beat alternatives to the hotspots that everyone flocks to in drove. We won't go as far as to call …

<b>Get to Istanbul's Blue Mosque faster with these four tips.</b><p>Istanbul is an adventure. Pure and simple. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Cathedral, strolling around Sultanahmet Square, walking over the Galata Bridge and watching water traffic on the churning Bosphorus from a cafe on the Asian side. The …

With hundreds of dreamy tropical islands scattered along Thailand’s extensive coastline, choosing your ideal island escape can be overwhelming. Each one of those specks in the ocean is a tantalising composition of turquoise water, lush jungles and divine beaches – so how's a traveller to …

Restaurants have been a part of Spanish culture for centuries. Indeed Spain is home to the oldest surviving restaurant in the world. According to the Guinness book that would be Sobrino de Botín (established 1725) just off Plaza Mayor in Madrid. Botín is merely the oldest and you’ll find many other …

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad, Cuba, was built on the back of the 19th-century sugar and slave trade. At its zenith, in 1827, one of the 56 sugar mills in the region harvested the biggest cane haul in the world — just under a million kilos of white pressed crystals. This enormous, …

Summer is officially underway in the Northern Hemisphere, and if you’re anything like me, that means one thing—beach season. Whether it be a long weekend at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina or an extended stay in sandy Punta Cana, I’m always ready for an ocean breeze and the sweet tang of …

<i>National Museum of Natural History (Photo: Smithsonian Institution)</i><p>Cultural discovery doesn't always come cheap. While admission fees support and sustain museums, they can add up for tourists looking for artistic experiences on a budget. To help you save a few bucks while on the road, we've rounded …

If you're looking for ways to get the most out of your travel plans by spending the least this summer, look no further.<p>Based on data from thousands of flights, the folks at CheapAir have concluded that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly this summer. On average, you'll save $64 if …

Nothing sends ocean swimmers fleeing for shore faster than a fin sighting. The word "shark" alone is enough to scare most people, immediately calling to mind the menacing theme song for the movie <i>Jaws</i> -- and, of course, all the gruesome attack scenes therein. But some people look past the Shark …

<i>By Cristina Veresan, Grosvenor Teacher Fellow & Middle School Science Teacher at Star of the Sea School in Honolulu, Hawaii.</i><p>Whenever I open up an issue of <i>National Geographic</i> magazine, I immediately flip though the pages to preview the photographs. Though I later return to each article to read the …

(Photo: SmarterTravel)<p>Savvy travelers know how to pack a week's worth of wardrobe changes into one carry-on year-round, but even the most packing-challenged among us can do it like a pro when summer rolls around. See ya later, bulky sweaters and jeans, make room for gauzy tops and easy dresses. …

In the summer of 2012, at age 24, I left home to travel the world. In just over a year, I backpacked through South America, South Asia, Western Europe, and the western United States. I hiked the Inca Trail, skied the Alps, hitchhiked through Patagonia, and trekked through the Himalayas. I worked at …